Sound symbolism is the idea that certain sounds or phonetic elements in language can evoke specific meanings or associations. For example, words that contain the sound "gl" often relate to light or brightness, such as in glow or glimmer. This phenomenon suggests that the sounds we use can carry inherent meanings beyond their definitions. Research in sound symbolism shows that people often perceive similar sounds in comparable ways across different languages. This can influence how we understand and create words, as well as how we respond to them emotionally. For instance, the soft sounds in murmur may evoke feelings of calmness, while harsher sounds in crash can suggest chaos or disruption.